Apparatus for erecting carton tubes

ABSTRACT

A machine for erecting flattened carton tubes comprised of foldably connected panel elements in a flattened condition thereof including a hopper for holding a stack of the flattened tubes, the hopper having converging sides defining a throat through which a tube must pass and be constrained in directions corresponding generally to the plane of certain of the panel elements to cause the tube to be erected. Structure is provided for engagement with a panel element of the tube and is operable to move the tube through the throat and maintain constraint thereon to cause erection of the tube. Plenum means are provided along at least one side of the hopper at the throat thereof for applying a blast of air to assist in the erection of the tube as it moves through the throat.

Umted States Patent 91 [111 3,896,71 1

Vuilleumier July 29, 1975 APPARATUS FOR ERECTING CARTON Primary Examiner-Roy Lake TUBES Assistant Examiner-James F. Coan [75] Inventor: Ralph O. Vuilleumier, Malvern, Pa. Agent or Firm-Carpenter Osns &

[73] Assignee: Container Corporation of America,

h' 111. C 57 ABSTRACT 22 Pl d: M 13, 1974 1 1 1e M A machine for erecting flattened carton tubes com- [211 App]. No.: 450,556 prised of foldably connected panel elements in a flattened condition thereof including a hopper for holding [52] CL 93/53 93/84 FF a stack of the flattened tubes, the hopper having con- [51] Int i 1/80 verging sides defining a throat through which a tube [58] i of M 84 must pass and be constrained in directions corre- 53/385 sponding generally to the plane of certain of the panel elements to cause the tube to be erected. Structure is [56] References Cited provided for engagement with a panel element of the E tube and is operable to move the tube through the UNITED STATES PAT NTS throat and maintain constraint thereon to cause erec- PlaZZe R tion of the tube Plenum means are provided along at 3 /2 3 least one side of the hopper at the throat thereof for l eumier e applying a blast of air to assist in the erection of the gzileumler 93/84 FF X tube as it moves through the throat. 3,768,381 10/1973 Kopp 93/53 SD X 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures a n 0L6 M n: ab 7 m e 34 9X PATENTED JUL 2 9 I975 SHEET FIG-4 APPARATUS FOR ERECTING CARTON TUBES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The structure disclosed herein is for the purpose of erecting flattened carton tubes and squaring the same up so that they may be moved along a conveyor having trapping lugs thereon which retains the erected and squared up carton tube in position. The structure according to the present invention represents an improvement over that disclosed in Ralph O. Vuilleumier US. Pat. No. 3,728,945.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a elevational view showing one form of a machine having the improvements according to the present invention embodied therein;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing another form of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 and showing a still further form, together with structure for moving carton blanks through a throat wherein the individual blanks are erected and subsequently fed to an endless conveyor device; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the structure seen in FIG. 3.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a number of preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed being respectively denoted by the reference numerals and 10A. In FIG. 1 there is seen a hopper 11 having sides 12 and 13, a lower part of the side 12 having a portion 14 which converges with respect to side 13 to define a throat T in which flattened carton blanks denoted are stored within hopper 11.

Each of the carton blanks FB includes a bottom panel PB, a top panel TP and side panels SP, the blanks FB arranged in the hopper 11 having certain of the panels thereof arranged in a common plane as seen in FIG. 1.

Structure is provided for moving the lowermost one of the stack of carton blanks FB within the hopper ll trhough the throat T causing each blank FB to be constrained in a direction corresponding generally to the plane of certain of the panels thereof and to cause the tube to be erected in part. The lowermost carton blank F8 is accordingly engaged by a suction number SM which engages the bottom panel B? and moves the blank FB through the throat T to cause the same to be squared up or erected.

Structure is provided for applying a blast of air laterally of the carton blank FB as it moves through the throat T and comprises a plenum P shown in phantom outline in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The suction means SM moves in timed relationship to a endless chain conveyor C having trapping lugs 11 thereon, and the erected carton tube is moved by the suction means SM down and through the throat T and between the trapping lugs 11 located on the endless conveyor C. As seen in FIG. 3 the endless conveyor C consists of a pair of laterally spaced conveyor chains 17, each being trained over a drive sprocket l8 fastened to a driving shaft 19.

The suction means SM comprises a pair of laterally spaced arms 23 which rock up and down between the laterally spaced conveyor chains 17. Each of the arms 23 is fastened on a rock shaft 24 which is synchronized in its movement with the shaft 19 driving endless conveyor C. Each of the arms 23 extends through a slot 13A provided in one of the hopper walls 13, and the ends of the arms 23 within the hopper 11 are provided with a cross member 22 having a pair of suction members 21 at the ends thereof, see FIG. 4, adapted to engage the bottom panel BP of the folded blank FB.

As noted in FIG. 4 each of the blanks F8 is provided with closure CF at the ends thereof, and the individual carton blanks FB, when in the erected condition described in arranged to be loaded endwise thereof at a further step along the conveyor C.

As seen also in FIG. 4 the plenum P is disposed to one side of the conveyor C, but it is obvious that a plenum may be disposed one to each side therof, each such plenum providing a blast to aid in the erecting process of the flattened blank FB. In the case where a single plenum P is employed, means may be employed in the nature of a fixed vertical member, not shown but seen in the aforesaid Vuilleumier patent, for providing stop for the blast of air to assist in the erection.

I claim:

1. In a machine for erecting carton tubes having foldably connected panel elements and arranged in a flattened condition thereof;

a. a hopper for holding a stack of flattened carton tubes;

b. said hopper having converging sides defining a throat through which a tube must pass and be constrained in direction corresponding generally to the plane of a certain of said panel elements to cause the tube to be erected;

0. means engageable with a panel element of said carton tubes and operable to move said carton tube through said throat and maintain the constraint thereon to cause partial erection of said tube;

d. plenum means extending along at least one side of said hopper at the throat thereof for applying positive air pressure in the form of a blast of air to complete the erection of said carton tube as it moves through said throat. 

1. In a machine for erecting carton tubes having foldably connected panel elements and arranged in a flattened condition thereof; a. a hopper for holding a stack of flattened carton tubes; b. said hopper having converging sides defining a throat through which a tube must pass and be constrained in direction corresponding generally to the plane of a certain of said panel elements to cause the tube to be erected; c. means engageable with a panel element of said carton tubes and operable to move said carton tube through said throat and maintain the constraint thereon to cause partial erection of said tube; d. plenum means extending along at least one side of said hopper at the throat thereof for applying positive air pressure in the form of a blast of air to complete the erection of said carton tube as it moves through said throat. 